Florida Atlantic University has concluded a chapter involving a faculty member and her social media musings on the late Charlie Kirk, ultimately deciding to part ways with the instructor despite an external review not recommending disciplinary action. Kate Polak, an English instructor at FAU, found herself under investigation following her social media activity related to Kirk's demise. As reported by CBS12, the investigation deemed some of her statements as potentially condoning violence, yet did not find ground for discipline under the university's guidelines or its contract with faculty.
The matter reached its conclusion with the university informing Polak that her contract would not be renewed. In a letter detailed by CBS12, Oliver Buckton, chair of FAU's English Department, relayed the decision, noting that while the investigation, conducted by former conservative Florida Supreme Court justice Alan Lawson, did not suggest discipline, it was within the university's discretion to not continue her employment. Polak was reportedly unaware of the investigation's completion or the decision regarding her job when the South Florida Sun Sentinel reached her, yet she was not surprised by the outcome. "This is absolutely political in nature," she stated, "This entire process has been political theater, aimed at first, making me afraid, and second, aimed at making all the other instructors in the university afraid."
In November, two other faculty members who had faced similar scrutiny over their comments regarding Kirk were reinstated at FAU. According to WPBF, these professors, unlike Polak, were on the tenure track and had their suspensions lifted following an external review. The distinct treatment of these cases has prompted discussions around the university's consistency in handling matters tied to faculty speech and due process.
Polak's statements, made on her private Facebook and Threads, included comments that aroused controversy due to their seemingly flippant tone about a violent event. Despite this, her performance as an educator did not come into question during the investigation, with a record of effective teaching and strong student evaluations backing her tenure at FAU since 2020. Moreover, the university received only three email complaints regarding her postings, as revealed by CBS12.
In response to the outcome, Polak expressed concern over the university's broader direction and the impact on academic freedom. "There's a lot of fear about what exactly to say, what can't be said, how to redesign a curriculum that has been in place for years and meets state standards," Polak told the South Florida Sun Sentinel, "I’m merely an avatar for what they’re actually going after," as mentioned on CBS12.
